Organizers of Edmonton’s Pride parade say they stand by their decision to have a police presence at this weekend’s procession recognizing the LGBTQ+ community.
The Edmonton PrideFest Association announced plans for additional security and police presence this week after attacks at Lapu Lapu Day events in Vancouver and at Pride celebrations in Berlin.
In response, multiple groups, including the non-profit RaricaNow, said they would cut ties with the festival over the presence of police, among other issues.
The parade, one of the biggest Pride events on the Prairies, returned last year after similar disagreements over law enforcement involvement and reports that marginalized groups were being sidelined.
Festival producer Trevor Watson says police involvement is a reasonable precaution to protect attendees and ensure they return home safely after Saturday’s parade.
RaricaNow founder Adebayo Chris Katiiti says police have historically mistreated LGBTQ+ and racialized communities.
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“We cannot honour Pride while ignoring its history and the voices that made it possible,” Katiiti said in a video on social media. “We cannot claim safety while welcoming the same systems that have harmed our communities.”
Edmonton police apologized in 2019 for officers’ mistreatment of the LGBTQ+ community, noting the brutal 1981 raid of the Pisces Health Spa, a former downtown bathhouse frequented by gay men.
I am a proud gay man, but my greatest shame in life is the gay community. Repugnant indoctrinating fetishizers, there is a reason why I’m 36 and have never been in a relationship. The gay men in the west are unhinged lunatics, stay away from them…
For decades, the police were welcomed in Pride Parades, especially if they wore ‘sexy cop’ uniforms and had fuzzy hand-cuffs. Suddenly there is a big push by a small minority to not allow police at the Pride parades? Did someone high up in the LGBQT+ community get dumped by a police officer and is now sore about it and trying to punish all police?
Nothing more romantic then a jar of lube and a calfing glove .
Wow some sick people here….get some help
Bum sex is great birth control for an over populated world
Its like species that go extinct and we can only wonder why…
They’re proud of you coming into their mouth
I’m proud to lick other women’s vaginas!
I’m proud to put my penis in another mans bum!
Still figuring out….what they are proud of ????
I’m tired, boss. I’m
Alphabet Mafia Fatigue
Sounds discriminatory to judge someone before you’ve even met them and to paint all of a group under the same brush if wrongs were done. Things 45 years ago were also much different and the changes that have been made should not be ignores
Why not simply stop pushing the alphabet soup gang. Canada has had enough of this hate group.
They should have hired rump rangers to secure this event
Guess they should had rump rangers to secure this event.
After all the nonsense recently, the EPS should stay away from it and save the tax payers some money.
Stupid f *cking fa ggats!
Still figuring out, what are they proud of ????
Still figuring out, what are they proud of ?????
Lol
*your not welcome here police officers leave the *Edmonton pride association alone and the *LGBTQIA2+ People alone as well”